In a little under two weeks a crack team of US extremists will invade the northern Swedish city of Umeå looking to recruit converts to their way of drinking thinking.

‘Over Hopped and Over Here’ is the theme for the second in a series of monthly Umeå Beer Club nights hosted by yours truly and those cool dudes at Duå in Umeå.

This month I’ve managed to track down an extreme line-up of US beers that I think really embody the American craft beer dream. Like something out of a daytime soap opera I can promise you they’ll all be bold and beautiful – as well as big to go with it!

Without naming names (after all we like surprises don’t we) here’s some clues about the beers we’re going to be tasting this month at Umeå’s only beer club:

A classic American Pale Ale from the city so good they named it twice.

An IPA from the west coast that smells and tastes so fresh and ‘green’ you’d swear they added the hops the minute before they bottled it.

A porter that’s ranked No.1 in the WORLD. Nuff said.

An Imperial IPA (for those of you that don’t know Imperial means ‘Watch Out!) brewed with 15 (that’s 1-5) different types of hops!

A ‘muscle car’ of an American Strong ale that looks the colour and consistency of engine oil and that promises to run your tastebuds over with its extreme flavours of coffee and chocolate.

Once again demand for this tasting has been so strong we’re going to hold two tastings back-to-back so that as many people as possible can get the opportunity to try these beers, none of which you can buy at the Systembolaget.

The first tasting will start at 17:00 and the second one kicks off at 19:30. After that everyone is invited for a spot of ‘ölmingel’ where as an added bonus there will be a selection of surprise ‘guest’ beers from Swedish beer importer Brill & Co available to buy and try!

To book your place here’s all the contact details you need:

090-7800303

info@duaumea.se

Hope to see lots of you there!

Until then…..Cheers and Beers!

Darren

Update:  Only a handful of places for the first tasting at 17:00 now left. First come, first happy

Another Update – Well done Tobbe for pointing out I got the date wrong! Not pretty but fixed now :/

Do you prefer the grape to the grain? Are you bowled over by Bordeaux but pass when it comes to pilsner?

Then write this date down in your diary – Saturday, September 18^th – the day when I’ll attempt to change the way you think about the worlds two favourite alcoholic drinks forever.

Now I know it’s a big ask but having recently tried the five beers I’m going to be serving up at the first ever Beer Club at Duå Delikatessbutik in Umeå I honestly believe I can do it!

Some (but not all) of the beers we're tasting at the 'Beer for Wine Lovers' tasting might be in this photo. But to find out which ones you need to book your place fast!

I’m not going to give away too many details of the beers we’re going to try (I want you all to turn up with minds wide open!) but this much I can now reveal:

One of these beers is as shockingly pink as a fruity Rosé, another gives off delicate smells of lavender and honey reminiscent of a fine desert wine while another is aged for months in red wine Bourgogne barrels and is so wine-like to sniff I’d challenge anyone to pick it out as a beer with their eyes shut!

All the five exclusive beers we’ll be trying have some connection to wine, either in the way they are made or in their flavours and aromas.

I’ll also be taking the opportunity during the evening to bust a few common myths about beer and wine, particularly when it comes to pairing them with food.

Demand for this “Beer for Wine Lovers’ tasting has been so great we’re actually going to hold two tastings back-to-back so that as many people as possible can get the opportunity to try these hard-to-get beers.

The first tasting will start at 17:00 and the second one kicks off at 19:30. After that everyone is invited for a spot of ‘ölmingel’ where as an added bonus there will be a selection of great beers from Swedish beer importer Brill & Co available to try!

If you want to join me and the Duå boys for a night of beery revelations then here’s all the contact details you need:

090-7800303

www.duaumea.se

info@duaumea.se

duaumea.blogspot.com

I hope to see some of you at Umeå’s trendiest Beer Club (Ed note: actually it’s Umeå’s only beer club) soon!

Until then…..Cheers and Beers!

Darren

* Couldn’t resist getting my own back Bengt Frithiofsson.